Top Latin dancers in City Lights showcase

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10: Two world-class dance champions will be gracing the stage at SalsaMania’s annual Mambo Nights show this Saturday evening.

Italy’s Maurizio Viscovo and Lithuania’s Andra Vaidilaite represented Canada in the World Promotions’ World Pro-Am Championships held at the Fairmont Southampton in March. They floored audiences with their energetic Latin ballroom style and will join dancers from the States and Italy as well as local dancers at the Mambo Nights: City Lights Show at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess featuring salsa, Argentine tango, hustle, Latin ballroom.

Viscovo and Vaidilaite began dancing at the ages of nine and four respectively.  While Viscovo was sent to dance classes by his two dancer parents in Italy, Vaidilaite’s family moved from Lithuania to Canada so that she could pursue her dreams of performing and competing.

Viscovo has represented three different countries — Italy, Hungary and Canada, and since partnering with Vaidilaite, has been named the Professional National Champion of all three countries. 

In her amateur career, Vaidilaite has achieved many great successes including becoming the World Junior Latin Champion, World Junior Salsa Champion and Canadian Youth Latin Champion.

“We met a few years ago, as most dancers do when travelling and competing together. There were a few parties where we had fun just dancing salsa together in a company of other dancers, without the slightest thought of ever being partners. In August 2009, after we both split with our previous partners, we arranged a try out on Facebook, which was held in Venice, Italy. In less than three days, we were able to perform all five dances to music without any major problems. We both felt the immediate connection as dancers and as individuals. We started training in Maurizio’s hometown and decided to represent Italy, but as our career grew, we realized that we spent most of our time in Toronto. Our next step was switching to dancing for Canada, that is now what we consider our home.”

This year’s showcase will feature all new choreographed performances by professional international dance companies Latin Energy, Comomango, Cadence, and for the first time during Mambo Nights, M and A Dance Company based in Canada. Bermuda will also be represented by the professional, semi-professional, and student companies of Sabor Dance School.